Mill roll lifting and turning rig



Nov. 8, 1960 A. R. CALLENDER MILL ROLL LIFTING AND TURNING 'RIG 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1954 4 k d ular.

Meow- A. R- CALLENDER MILL ROLL LIFTING AND TURNING RIG Nov. 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1954 Qm R m mm k [NV NTOR.

5 kzzavale Array/sexy 1960 A. R. CALLENDER MILL ROLL LIFTING AND TURNING RIG 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 31, 1954 I/YAKA-A 1960 A. R. CALLENDER MILL RQLL LIFTING AND TURNING RIG 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 31, 1954 NN E Nov. 8, 1960 A. R. CALLENDER MILL ROLL LIFTING AND TURNING RIG 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. '31, 1954 INVENTOR. 4Arw/x 6. 6444x105? Nov. 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 31, 1954 INVENTOR. l 4x790? IQ- 6Y9zM/VP Y Nm g up so that its grab may engage the coil.

Unite 1 MILL ROLL LIFTIN G AND TURNING RIG Filed Dec. 31, 1954, Ser. No. 479,129

12 Claims. (Cl. 294-436) The present invention relates to a lifting and turning rig for millrolls and more particularly to a rig adapted to be operated from a travelling crane cab or pendant floor type of control usually located at unloading and loading platforms, Warehouses and warehouse areas and shops in which fabricating operations are to be performed upon the sheet material which is coiled into the mill roll.

Essentially the novel device of the present invention is designed to lift coil steel from flat cars in their horizontal position and place them vertically stacked on ends and when required to lift them on end andplace them horizontally on their .unwind equipment. Thus, my novel device is primarily designed to lift coils from 500 to 75,000 pounds in weight by one operator from a crane cab; but it is adapted to use in connection 'withall types of metal mill rolls as well as in connection with mill rolls of other material such as paper.

In the handling, storage and use of heavy mill rolls, one of the most diflicult problems has been the moving and turning of the mill rolls in such manner that they are at all times firmly under control, will not telescope and so that the operation will require a minimum of specialized equipment as well as a minimum of manual handling operations.

Despite the fact that an overhead travelling crane operated by one man is virtually always present in'shops handling and fabricating such coils, many types of special equipment have heretofore been used for this turning operation. Thus, special grabs have been provided on specialized trucks for this purpose; the crane .sling is used to lift the coil free and then the truck is brought Also, special slings have been devised to engage the coils; but these must be manipulated delicately to prevent the coilfrom sliding free of the sling and must be secured manually before the crane could operate. Tong-like grabs have also been used (working either inside or outside the coil) but these could not be used to turn the coil since they were suspended from the crane by a flexible cable or chain. A so-called book-end type of holding device has also been used when the coil was deposited horizontally between two clamping vertical supports. Special roller conveyors have been used together with stationarily positioned coil turning platforms.

The problems which arise from the added equipment and manpower needed to manipulate the coil is that heretofore the one man operated overhead crane with its flexible cable and hook furnished a means of support and transportation but did not furnish a rigid purchase or station from which manipulation of the coil other than lifting and carrying may be performed.

My invention contemplates the provision of tong-like grab members for the coil to be suspended from the hook and flexible cable of the crane, the grab ends of said tongs being provided with pressure pads rotatably mounted in the tongs and with motor means mounted onthe tongs and connected to the pressure pads to rotate the pressure pads.

ttes Pater-rt O .By this means, the .crane carrying the tongs at the end of its flexiblecable is brought over the roll, means' are provided on the tongs preferably operable from'the cab of the crane to open the tongs, the pressure pads are ,rotatedto a position where they are aligned in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil, the tongs are lowered until the center line of each of the pressure pads and the longitudinalaxis of the coil are in a single plane with the tongs located at about the center of the coil length, the tongs are closed to bring the pressure pads into firm engagement with the coil; the crane operator then draws up the flexible cable to raise and transport the coil.

When the coil is thereby moved to the desired location and is to be stacked vertically (having been picked up horizontally), the pressure pads are then rotated in their rotatable bearingsin the tongs through by the, motors carried on the tongs and then the tongs are lowered to deposit the coil; the tongs are then opened and drawn up and away by the cable. The reverse operationcan, of course, be performed to move the coil from a vertical stack position to a horizontal use position. In each case, the operator energizes the motors until the coil gripped by the tongs has the proper and desired orientation, not necessarily with respect to the tongs, but with respect to the floor or other support on or in connection with which the coil is to be supported or used.

As a further feature of my invention and to prevent vspilling or telescoping of loosely wound coils, there may be associated with the pressure pads an expanding member which will enter the center of the coil and expand outwardly when the pressure pads are driven inwardly. Since the expanding member is carried by the pressure pads, it will rotate with them and thereby permit orientation of the coil.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision 'of tongs or other support or carrying means for a mill roll so arrangedthat it may operate from a flexible support such as a flexible cable carried by a crane and further so arranged that the gripping sections ,of the tongs may be rotated with respect to the tongsto orient the will roll with respect to the floor or other support on which the .mill roll is to be placed.

The foregoing object should be taken in connection with theproblems and solutions thereof previously'set forth and will be further explained together'with other objects in connection with the following description and drawings in which: 7

Figure l -is a view in "perspective "showing the novel gripping device of the present invention engaging'a mill roll in a horizontal position.

Figure 2 is a view in ers ective showing the process of turning the mill roll which has been picked up.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing the mill roll turned to full vertical position.

Figure '3A shows schematically the movement of the gripping members of the tongs of Figures 1-3 from gripping to non-gripping position.

Figure 3B is a side view of the U-shaped frame member.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the gripping device of the present invention taken from above Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a side view of the gripping device -of the present invention corresponding to the view of Figure 3 but showing a different motor arrangement.

Figure 6 is an end view of the gripping'device ofthe present invention taken from line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a 'top plan view of a modified form of the gripping device taken from above Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the gripping device.

Figure 9 is an end view of the gripping device of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view in perspective looking in the direction of arrows 10-10 of Figure 11, showing a modified form of the motor drive unit for the pressure pads.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken from line 11-11 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional enlarged view of one of the pressure pad motor drives of Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a schematic view showing a modification of my novel gripping device.

Figure 14 is a schematic view showing another modification of my novel gripping device.

Figure 15 is a top view of the gripper of Figure 8 taken from line 15-15 of Figure 8.

Figure 16 is a view in modified form of my novel gripping device.

Figure 17 is a view of another modified form of my novel gripping device.

Figure 18 is a view of a modification of the pressure pad of my novel device.

Figure 19 is a view of a modified form of the gripping structure of Figure 8.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3, my novel gripping device 20 comprises a main inverted U-shaped frame member 21. The frame 21 may comprise two parallel frame members 21a and 21b interconnected by pins 22 and 23, or may in appropriate cases be so arranged that the sections 21a and 21b are legs of a curved U-shaped channel.

Pin 22 carried between the frame members 21a and 21b rotatably supports the pair of parallel bell crank members 25a and 25b forming together one leg or tine 25 of the tong-like gripping device 20. The upper ends of hell crank members 25a and 25b are connected by the pin 27. Pin 23 carried between the frame members 210 and 21b on the other side rotatably supports the pair of parallel bell crank members 26a and 26b forming together one leg or tine 26 of the gripping device 20. The upper ends of bell crank members 26a and 26b are interconnected by pin 28.

A pair of parallel links 30a and 30b forming the toggle link 30 are rotatably mounted on pin 28. A pair of parallel links 31a and 31b forming the toggle link 31 are rotatably mounted on pin 27. The toggle links 30 and 31 are interconnected by pin 33 passing through the upper ends of links 30a, 30b, 31a, 31b.

A hook or book receiving member 35 is secured to pin 33 and is arranged to receive the hook (not shown) extending from the cable of the crane so that the entire gripping device 20 may be suspended from the crane cable.

The lower ends of members 25a and 25b extend below pin 22 on frame21 to carry the pressure pad and motor assembly 37 on pins or trunnions 38 located in the lower extremities 39a, 39b of members 25a, 25b.

The lower ends of members 2611 and 26b extend below pin 23 to carry the pressure pad and motor assembly 40 on pins or trunnions 41 located in the lower extremities 42a, 42b of members 26a, 26b. The toggle links 30a and 30b carry between them intermediate the pins 33 and 28 but closer to the pins 28 the pin 45 on which a journal 46 is mounted which in turn is connected to the piston rod 47 of the hydraulic cylinder 48. The lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 48 is fastened in any suitable manner as by the brackets 49 to the frame member 21 between the frame sections 21a and 21b.

Similarly, the toggle links 31a and 31b carry between them intermediate the pins 33 and 27 but closer to the pins 27 the pin 55 on which a journal 56 is mounted wihch in turn is connected to the piston rod 57 of the hydraulic cylinder 58. The lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 58 is fastened in any suitable manner as by the brackets 59 to the frame member 21 between the frame sections 21a and 21b.

As fiuid is injected into the hydraulic cylinders 48 and 58, the piston rods 47 and 57 are pushed upwardly with respect to the anchoring positions at 49 and 59 of each of the cylinders, and the toggle links 30 and 31 are pushed upwardly and away from the said anchoring positions 49 and 59. This moves the toggle links 30 and 31 and the bell crank members 25 and 26 from the dotted line position of Figure 3A to the solid line position of Figure 3A, driving the pressure pads 60 and 61 carried by the pressure pad and motor assemblies 40 toward each other.

In other words, each of the bell crank members 25 and 26 is rotated about its respective pin 22 and 23 so that as the pins 28 and 27 move upwardly and toward each other, the sections 39 and 42 carrying the pins 38 and 41 of the bell crank levers 25 and 26 below the pins 22 and 23 move toward each other. In this way by injecting fluid into the cylinders 48 and 58 the gripping device may be moved to assume a gripping position where the pressure pads 60 and 61 grip the mill roll 70 and by injecting fluid in such manner as to draw the pistons 47 and 57 downwardly, the bell crank levers are rotated in an opposite direction to move the pressure pads 60 and 61 away from each other to thereby disengage a mill roll.

Each of the pressure pad and motor assemblies 40, 40 comprise a housing 64 carrying a shaft 65, the said shaft 65 extending through the housing 64 in appropriate bearings therein. The pressure rods 60 and 61 are mounted on the inner extension of the shaft 65.

One method of journalling the shaft 65 in the housing 64 is shown in Figure 12 where, however, the motor arrangement and the motor drive is different from that shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 and will be described later.

In the modification shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, a crank member 67 is keyed to the shaft 65 and is con nected by pin 68 to the link 69 which in turn is connect ed to crank pin 72 on the disc 73 driven by shaft 74 which through an appropriate gear reduction mechanism (not shown) is connected to the motor in the subsidiary housing 75. The subsidiary housing 75 is carried by the main housmg 64. Consequently, it will be seen that energization of motors 75 on each side will serve through the cranks and links above mentioned to rotate shaft 65 and the pressure pad 60 on one side and 61 on the other side in a plane parallel to that in which the pressure pads lie; that is, the pressure pads 60 and 61 may thus be rotated from the position of Figure 1 through the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 3 and then back again.

By thfs means it will be seen that the crane operator moves the gripping device 20 over the mill roll to be lifted, assuming that the mill roll is horizontal as shown in Figure 1. The gripping device with the pressure pads 60 and 61 and hence the lower ends 39 and 42 of the bell crank members as far apart as possible are lowered over the mill roll so that the greatest circumference of the horizontal mill roll is located between the pressure pads 60 and 61. The motors are simultaneously operated on each side so that the pressure pads 60 and 61 extend in a direction for engagement with a horizontally arranged mill roll.

It will be noted that the pressure pads are curved cylindrically so that they will readily engage the cylindrical surface of a mill roll and hence should be oriented to engage such a surface. When the pressure pads are properly aligned with the side of the mill roll, the operation of hydraulic cylinders 49 and 58 which may be controlled from the cab of the crane will drive the pressure pads 60 and 61 toward each other in the manner above described until they engage the mill roll securely.

In order to ensure that this engagement will be a secure frictional engagement, the pressure pads may be lined with appropriate frictional material such as the material commonly used for brake shoes.

Once this engagement of the pressure pads with the mill roll has occurred, the crane operator may then ZIift' the cable and the gripping device to lift the mill roll 70 clear and transport the same to a desired location. Should it be desired during the process of transporting the mill roll to turn the mill roll from horizontal to vertical, the operation of motors 75 resulting in simultaneous rotation of pressure pads 60 and 61 will turn the mill roll from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 2 and to the position of Figure 3. This may occur during the actual transport of the mill roll or after the mill roll has been transported to a desired location but has not as yet been deposited.

After the mill roll has thus been turned from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 3 and is lowered into place where it rests on a suitable base or platform, the pressure pads 60 and 61 may be disengaged by operating the hydraulic mechanisms 48 and '58 to drive the piston rods 47 and 57 into the cylinders and thus move the pressure pads 60 and 61 away from the mill roll 74).

When it is desired to move the mill roll from the vertical stacked position to a horizontal position for use of the mill roll in connection with other apparatus or for other purposes, then the gripping members with the pressure pads 60 and 61 fully separated are lowered over the vertical mill roll of Figure 3 with the pressure pads 68 and 61 oriented for engagement with the cylindrical surface. Pressure pads 60 and 61 are driven into engagement with the mill roll. The mill roll is lifted. Rotation of the mill roll from the'vertical to the horizontal position (from the Figure 3 to the Figure 1 position) may then occur by operation of motors 75 and then the mill roll may be released from the gripping device 20 by operating the hydraulic members 48 and 58 to separate the pressure pads 60 and 61.

It wll be obvious that the shape of the U-shaped frame member 21 must be such that the distance'between the upper portion thereof in the center and the pressure pads on each side will be sufficient to accommodate a sufiicient portion of the length of the mill roll to permit the mill roll to be turned.

Also, the pressure pads should have sufiicient area so that they may be driven into the cylindrical coil ofsteel with suflicient pressure firmly to hold the'coil without marring the outer layers of the coil.

In addition, it is important that as the pressure pads approach the coil they always be maintained parallel to each other and to the axis of the coil. For this purpose, as indicated in Figures 1 to 3 and as shown in greater detail in Figure 12, the upper surface of the housing 64 is provided with the gear segment 80 which engages the pinion 81 carried on shaft 82 between sections 39a -and 39b of bell crank levers 25a and 25b. The-identical structure is also carried between sections 42a and 42b of the bell crank ievers 26a and 26b. Pinion 81 meshes with gear segments 83 at the lower margins on each sidebf the members 21a and 21b of the U-shaped frame member 21.

Thus, as the bell crank levers '25 and 26'on-ea6h side rock about the pivot 22 on one side and 23 on the other side, the movement of the lower sections of the bell crank members on each side will translate the pinions' l about the center 22 on one side and the center 23 on the other side, causing a rotation of the pinion 81 with respect to the relatively stationary gear segment 83 on member 21, thereby causing a corresponding rotation of gear segment 89 and hence of the entire housing64 about its pivot 38, thereby adjusting the pressure pad 60 on one side and the pressure pad 61 on the other side through identical mechanism to maintain the parallel relationship between the pads 60 and 61 with each other and hence with the axis of any coil therebetween.

In Figures 4, and 6 I have shown substantially identical structure as in connection with Figuresl, wars vided at the end of thegauge rod 101 so that 'whenthe and hence the members have beengiven identical .reference numbers. The essential difference,"howevenis in the point of attachment of the piston .rod, in .the construction and operation of the pressure pad motors and in'anautomatic positioning device for positioning "the (gripping members with respecti'to the mill roll 70.

Pivot 38 for the motor and pressure pad housing must be below shaft which supports and rotates the pressure pad 60 on one side or 61 on the other side since in this way a support below the center line of the coil is achieved preventng possible dropping out of the coil. v p

The hydraulic cylinders 48 and 58 on each sidefare connected to the frame member 21 on each side 'by the pins 49 and 59 on each side. The piston rods 47 and 57 on each side are not connected to the body of-the links 3i and 31 on each side as in connection with Figures 1 to 3 but in the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6 are connected to journals 46a and 56a on 'pins.27 and 28 between the link 30 and bell crank lever rassembly 26 on one side and link '31fand bell 'crank lever assembly 25 on the other side. g

The motor assembly has already been partially ."described in connection with Figure 12. The m'ethodtof connection of the motor here shown to the pressure pad shaft 65 is different, however, from that shown in :connection with Figures 1 to 3. V

The motor 75a through an appropriate gear box "6911 drives the worm gear 68a which in turn drives the spiral gear 67a on the shaft 65. This achieves a'positive self-locking drive and produces an extreme speed'reduction to ensure that the pressure'pads are rotatedat a sufiiciently slow speed and thereby makes possible'the use of a smaller motor while at the same time.maintaining extremely accurate control over the angular "position of the'pressure padsand the coil.

While in the foregoing I have referred'to hydraulic operating cylinders 48 and 58, it will be obvious :that any fluid operated device may be utilized for the purpose of moving and maintaining the gripping pads 60 and. 61 into the desired position so that air driven as well 'as' oil driven mechanisms may be used, and it will also be obvious that other remote control devices such as aro- 'tating screw or toggles which will separate or draw together the pins 28 and 27 or the pins 28 and 49*maybe used.

In addition, in Figures 4 to 6 I have shown'an automatic gauge which may be utilized for controlling'ithe positioning of the gripping device 20. One of the pressure pads may carry an air cylinder 100 operated viby remote'control to move the gauge rod .101 which is attached to the piston thereof to various positionsjfor different size cylinders. A limit switch 102 maybeprm limit switchengages the upper surface of the coil 70, a signal will be provided or an actual turning off of'the current may occur, which current is used to energize the operation of lowering the gripping device onto the coil.

Thus, the gauge rod 101 and the air cylinder '100 carried by the pressure pad 60 may be utilized "to stop the lowering of the gripping device 20 so that the pries-.

sure pads willengage the coil at the correct position for appropriate balance of the coil. The control for operating the air cylinder 100 may be in the crane cab.

An additional air cylinder 103 operated from any appropriate source including the crane cab is utilized to operate a piston rod 104 into engagement with the gauge rod 101 to lock the gauge rod 101 in position.

By this means, therefore, a simpified gripping device may be provided which does not require the assistance of a man on the ground to guide the gripping device.

The crane operator can readily determine the horizontal orientation of the gripping device with respect. to the coil. It is more diflicult for him because of his position above the coil to determine the vertical orientation.

Consequently, he may move the gripping device over'the 7 coil but may possibly require assistance or long practice before he can be sure that the gripping device has reached the correct point vertically on a vertically stacked coil to ensure a balanced engagement.

By the utilization of the automatic gauge as above pointed out, this vertical orientation is achieved for him automatically thereby making the operation of engaging a vertically stacked coil a one-man job.

Where the coil is arranged horizontally, then the curvature of the coil in a vertical plane provides the necessary vertical orientation for the operator of the crane cab, while the engagement at the center of the coil by the pressure pads located in the position of Figure 1 can be visually observed readily from the cab above the coil owing to the fact that the problem is one only of horizontal orientation.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 I have shown a modification of my invention which utilizes all of the elements of Figures 4, 5 and 6 and consequently all of these elements have been given the same reference numbers as the identical elements in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

However, in the device of Figures 7, 8 and 9 I have also shown a member carried by the pressure pads which may be utilized to enter the interior of a coil 70 and expand outwardly on the inside of the coil so that the coil is not merely gripped by two pressure pads on the outside but is also gripped by two outward.y expanded pressure pads on the inside, thereby preventing telescoping of the coil.

It will be obvious that the mechanism for thus entering the interior of the coil must be rotatable with the pressure pads and hence this interior gripping mechanism 120 is carried by the pressure pads. Each of the pressure pads carries a support member 121 and 122 secured to the pressure pad on its side. The support member 122 carries a cross bar 123 having pins 124, 125 slidable in the slot 126 of the support 127 carried by the support member 122. The cross bars 123 and 127 which are integrated by the pins 124 and 125 and the slot 126 thus form a continuous cross bar above the pressure pads 60 and 61.

Consequently, as the pressure pads 60 and 61 move toward each other, the cross bars 123 and -127 may telescope together or slide apart. A pair of such combined cross bars 123-127 is secured on each side of the pressure pads 60 and 61 by supports 121, 122 on each side of the pressure pad. A sleeve 130 is carried by each set of cross bars on each side slidable therealong. The sleeves 130 on each side carry the fluid operating chamber 132 secured to the underside of the sleeve 130 by the transverse clamping plate 133 and bolt 134 and nut 135.

The fluid operating chamber 132 which may be hydraufic or air or even may use a solenoid plunger instead of either of the foregoing is arranged to move its piston rod 138 in or out. Auxiliary internal pressure pads 161 and 162 are provided. The upper end of these pressure pads are connected by links 135, 136 to pin 137 attached to hollow piston rod 138. The lower links 141, 142, 143 and 144 are connected to auxiliary internal pressure pads 161 and 162 and stationary rod 134 which extends through hollow piston rod 138, fluid operating chamber 132, sleeve 130 and held by transverse clamping plate 133 and nut 135.

When the piston 134 is drawn upwardly, the links 135 and 136 ensure that the pressure pads cannot follow the piston 134 upwardly despite their connection by means of the links 141 to 144 unless they move radially outward as guided by the links 135 and 136 and, therefore, move into a tight pressure engagement on the interior of the coil.

Referring to Figure 15 it will be seen that the internal gripper is held central by links 152 and 153 and arm 151. Arm 151 is located in the center of sleeve 130 and free to move radially on stationary rod 134. Link 152 is 8 connected to arm 151 by pin 156 and to cross bar 123 by pin 154. Link 153 is connected to arm 151 by pin 156a and to cross bar 153 by pin 155.

From the above it will be seen that the crane operator may lower the gripping device of Figures 7, 8 and 9 down to a vertical coil with the internal gripping device entering the core of the coil, and he may readily remove the device from a horizontal coil by moving the device sideways after pressure has been released.

Similarly, a competent crane operator will be able to move the gripping device into a horizontal coil, particularly since he is able to turn by the use of the motors 75a not only the pads but the internal gripping member which is attached to the pads so that they may be positioned to enter the coil.

In Figures 10 and 11 I have shown a modified form of motor operation for my novel pressure pad and gripping device assembly. Essentially, all of the elements are identical to those previously described in connection particularly with Figures 1, 2, 3 and 12; that is, the gears 80, 81 and 83 and the shaft 65 and the pressure pad 60, the housing 64 all operate in the same way.

The motor housings 175a on each side of the gripping device are provided with appropriate gear reduction to drive a shaft 175 at a desired slow speed. Shaft 174 drives a crank disc 173. The shaft 65 with pressure pad 60 carries the crank disc 167. A drive link 169 is rotatably mounted on the pivot 168 carried by the housing. Drive link 169 has a slot 169a which engages crank pin 173a on the crank disc 173. Drive link 169 also has a slot 16911 which engages the crank pin 16711 on the crank disc 167 As the motor in the housing 175a is operated to rotate the crank disc 173 and the crank pin 1730:, it produces an oscillation of the link 169 about the center 16%, that is, in a full 360 rotation of crank pin 173, each end of the drive link 169 will move first in one direction and then in the other direction. Hence, the operation of the motor through the gear reduction mechanism will cause the shaft 65 to rotate slowly.

The length of the slot 16% is chosen so that the limit of rotation of the pressure pad 60 is slightly more than The further operation of the motor in one direction would simply cause the pin 167a to stop at the lower end of slot 16% so that, therefore, the pressure pads may be rotated from one limiting horizontal position to a vertical position, and limit switches may be arranged at the ends of the slot or at any other appropriate position of the mechanism to halt rotation. The reason that more than 90 rotation is permitted is that, in the event a coil picked up off center is to be laid horizontal, the tilt of the gripper on the cable must be taken into account to efiect a turn of the coil to horizontal.

Various other means for obtaining the appropriate movement of the pressure pads toward each other may be utilized, all within the principles suggested.

Thus, in Figure 13 instead of the U-shaped frame memher, a horizontal frame member 221 may be used, the other elements corresponding exactly (although differing slightly in shape) to the elements of Figures 1, 2, and 3.

In this case, the fluid operated means for moving the pads toward and away from each other comprise the cylinder 248 secured at 249 to the beam 221 with the end of the piston 247 journalled at pin 33.

Likewise, in Figure 14 I have shown a modification of the structure of Figures 1, 5 and 13 where the same elements may be used except that in place of the toggle links 30 and 31 of Figure 13, a horizontal beam 321 may be used parallel to the horizontal beam 221 carrying pivotally connected thereto by means of pins 350 and 351 the links 330 and 331 which in turn are connected by pins 328 and 327 to the bell crank levers 25 and 26.

Both of the devices shown in Figures 13 and 14 require slightly different mountings for the motor and pressure pad carriages 64; although it may be possible that no specific orienting means such as that shown by the gears 80, '81 and 83 of Figure 12 may be'necessary since the carriage 64 may be provided with appropriate stops to prevent excess downward or upward rotation with the pressure pads being self-orienting, that is, lining up parallel to each other as they are pushed together.

In Figure 16 I have shown a modification of my novel unit utilizing the main structure of Figures 1 to 3 and utilizing a motor unit of the type shown in Figure 12 for rotation of the left-hand pressure pad 60. The left-hand pressure pad 60 is directly controlled by the motor 75a in the manner described in connection with Figure 12.

The right-hand pressure pad 260 is rotatably mounted in appropriate bearings without a direct motor connection in the right-hand side of the tongs or gripping device.

The pressure pads 60 and 260 are connected together by-a'connecting harness 222 comprising the arm 222a whichis secured to pressure pad 260 and arm 222b which issecured to pressure pad 60 and the sliding tie bar 2220 -which-interconnects the two arms 222a and 222b in the vsame manner as described in connection with Figure 8, the tie bar 2220 being collapsible and extensible to perm'it the pressure pads 60 and 26b to approach each other or'toimove away from each other, while at the same time any rotating motion on pressure pad 61 is communicated -to pressure-pad 260. In this way, a single control motor may be used.

:In Figure 17 I have shown a modified mounting for the'pressure pad 360. The motor and drive connection to shaft 365 will be the same as that shown in connection with Figure 12. However, the entire housing 364 instead of being itself pivotally secured to the lower end of arm 26 on one side or 25 on the other side is longi- "tudinally slidably mounted in the pivotally mounted auxiliary housing 3640, the said housing 364:: being mounted on the-pins 338 which permit it to pivot. A plurality of recesses 409 are provided in the shaft housing 364 and a pawl 401 is pivotally mounted on the external housing 364:: and is spring biased by spring 492 through opening 4031into-the selected recess 400, 400.

Thus, in the event of major variation in outside diameter, pawl 401 may be withdrawn and the shaft housing 364 may be slid to an alternate position to vary the outside 'diameter in connection with which the pad 360 will operate.

sure pad 460 into which an additional pressure pad having a corresponding longitudinal back key may be slid and secured in position by any appropriate means.

'In Figure 19 I have shown a structure corresponding substantially to that of Figures 1 to 3 and 8 including a central gripping unit 560 supported by the collapsible and extensible tie bar 530. The member 500 will be inserted in the core of the mill roll in the manner described in connection with Figure '8. An extensible wedge 510 is provided at the lower end of member 500 having interior chamfered surfaces 511 and having a wedged expander 512 cooperating with the chamfered surfaces 511. When the chamfered member 512 is drawn 211p, it will spread the wedge 51% to grip the interior of the mill roll, while at the same time the pressure pads on the outside grip the exterior.

Various means may be provided for drawing up the expander 512 including hydraulic operating means in the central member 500; a screw 515 may also be provided passing through an appropriate opening in member 530 and arranged so that it may be raised and tightened by nut 516. A motor may, if desired, beprovid edto operatone end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end-of each of the arms toward and away fromeach other; the pressure pads being substantially parallel to eachother and means operatively connected to said frame for maintaining the pressure pads parallel to eachother as the arms rotate on their'pivots.

2. A gripping, raising and turning device comprising .a pair ofopposed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arms being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure pad-at one end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and away from each other; means including a housing pivotally mounted at the end of each arm for rotation on an axis parallel to the plane of each pressure pad; each housing supporting a rotatable shaft extending in a plane normal to the first mentioned axis; each pressure pad being mounted on a shaft; and means-for rotating said housings to maintain said shafts at the end of each arm co-axial as the arms move toward and away from each other.

3. A gripping, raising and turning device comprising a pair of opposed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arms being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure padat one end of each of said arms; operating 'means between 'the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and awayfrom each other; 'means including a housing pivotally mounted at the end of each arm for rotation on an axis parallel to the plane of each pressure pad; each housing supporting a rotatable shaft extending in a plane normal to the first mentioned axis; each pressure pad being mounted on a shaft, and a connection between each housing and the frame to rotate said housings as the arms move with re- 7 spect to the frame; said connection maintaining the shafts at ends of each arm co-axial as the arms move toward and away from each other.

4. A gripping, raising and turning device comprising a pair of opposed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arm's being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure pad at one end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and away from each other; means including a housing pivotally to the first mentioned axis; each pressure pad being mounted on a shaft; means to rotate said housings to maintain said shafts at the end of each arm co-axial as the arms move toward and away from each other; and a motor 'on each housing connected to the shaft thereof; said motors being operable simultaneously to rotate said pressure pads simultaneously.

5. A gripping, raising and turning device comprising a pair of opopsed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arms being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure pad at one end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and away from each other; means including a housing pivotally mounted at the end of each arm for rotation on an axis parallel to the plane of each pressure pad; each housing supporting a rotatable shaft extending in a plane normal to the first mentioned axis; each pressure pad being mounted on a shaft; means to rotate said housings to maintain said shafts at the end of each arm co-axial as the arms move toward and away from each other, and a motor on one of said housings connected to the shaft thereof to rotate the pressure pad of said housing.

6. A gripping, raising and turning device comprising a pair of opposed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arms being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure pad at one end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and away from each other; means including a housing mounted at the end of each arm; each housing supporting a rotatable shaft; each pressure pad being mounted on a shaft, and a motor on one of said housings connected to the shaft thereof to rotate the pressure pad of said housing, and a connection between the motor operated pressure pad and the opposite pressure pad to cause the opposite pressure pad to rotate simultaneously with the motor operated pressure pad.

7. A gripping, raising and turning device for a mill roll having a hollow core comprising a pair of opposed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arms being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure pad at one end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and away from each other; said pressure pads being simultaneously rotatable about an axis normal to the principal plane of each pressure pad, and a center gripping member for said mill roll including a support between the pressure pads and arranged to clear the mill roll end; said support carrying an expandable member insertable in said hollow core; and means for expanding said expandable member to press against the wall of the hollow core.

8. A gripping, raising and turning device for a mill roll having a hollow core comprising a pair of opposed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arms being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure pad at one end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and away from each other; said pressure pads being simultaneously rotatable about an axis normal to the principal plane of each pressure pad, and a center gripping member for said mill roll including a support between the pressure pads and arranged to clear the mill roll end; said support carrying an expandable member insertable in said hollow core; and means for expanding said expandable member to press against the wall of the hollow core; said support being adjustable to maintain the expandable member in a centered position between said pressure pads as said pressure pads move toward and away from each other.

9. A gripping, raising and turning device for a mill roll, said device having a pair of opposed arms; a connecting and supporting frame for said arms; said arms being pivotally mounted with respect to said connecting and supporting member for movement of one end of each arm toward and away from the other; a pair of toggle links connected between the ends of the arms opposite the pressure pads; and means mounted between said connecting and supporting frame and said toggle links for moving said arms toward and away from one another; and means carried by the center pin of the toggle links for supporting the entire device from a single 12 overhead vertical cable; said gripping, raising and turning operations being operable while said device is suspended from said overhead vertical cable.

10. A gripping, raising and turning device for a mill roll, said device having a pair of opposed arms; a connecting and supporting frame for said arms; said arms being pivotally mounted with respect to said connecting and supporting member for movement of one end of each arm toward and away from the other; means mounted between said connecting and supporting frame and said arms for moving said arms toward and away from each other, and a gauge member extending from one of said pressure pads in the plane thereof; said gauge member having a stop settable to engage the end of the mill roll when the pressure pads are located with respect to a predetermined portion of the mill roll.

11. A gripping, raising and turning device comprising a pair of opposed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arms being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure pad at one end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and away from each other; means including a housing pivotally mounted at the end of each arm for rotation on an axis parallel to the plane of each pressure pad; each housing supporting a rotatable shaft extending in a plane normal to the first mentioned axis; each pressure pad being mounted on a shaft; said housings rotating to maintain said shafts at the end of each arm co-axial as the arms move toward and away from each other, and means for adjusting the initial spacing between said pressure pads.

12. A gripping, raising and turning device comprising a pair of opposed arms; a frame; each of said opposed arms being pivotally mounted on said frame; a pressure pad at one end of each of said arms; operating means between the frame and each of said arms to move said pressure pad end of each of the arms toward and away from each other; means including a housing pivotally mounted at the end of each arm for rotation on an axis parallel to the plane of each pressure pad; each housing supporting a rotatable shaft extending in a plane normal to the first mentioned axis; each pressure pad being mounted on a shaft; said housings rotating to maintain said shafts at the end of each arm co-axial as the arms move toward and away from each other, and means for adjusting the initial spacing between said pressure pads; said means comprising an adjustable mounting for the housing for each pressure pad, each housing being movable along a line parallel to the axis of each shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,807,360 Wehr May 26, 1931 1,881,706 Larsen Oct. 11, 1932 2,226,789 Tupy Dec. 31, 1940 2,229,359 York Jan. 21, 1941 2,364,897 Grigsby Dec. 12, 1944 2,390,293 Colson Dec. 4, 1945 2,476,249 Payne July 12, 1949 2,497,600 Grigsby Feb. 14, 1950 2,639,937 Billings May 26, 1953 2,652,280 Billings Sept. 15, 1953 2,670,985 King Mar. 2, 1954 2,676,837 Wagner Apr. 27, 1954 2,705,658 Barchoff Apr. 5, 1955 2,752,055 Hoppert June 26, 1956 2,756,883 Shreck July 31, 1956 

